TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Just saw that Thea Gilmore is working on an album of Sandy Denny songs (unpublished lyrics).  I've always enjoyed Thea's albums,
and think this will be interesting.  More details here:
http://sandydenny.blogspot.com/

Looking forward to this!

I'm looking nervously at it.  I'm a big fan of Thea's but I'm worried about the "unpublished lyrics" bit.  Hoping it'll be good though.

Another huge fan of Thea's and her version of Dylan's John Wesley Harding album is brilliant. But, not sure her voice is right for Sandy's songs. Though with Thea's talent hopefully I'll be proved wrong.

Indeed Andy, hope that is the case as well. Pretty sure it will actually  ;)

I can't honestly say that I am a Thea Gilmore fan, although I have heard a couple of her albums.  I find it hard to see any tie-up with Sandy's musical style and hers. Does anyone know how this came to fruition? I just don't have a good feeling about it.   :-X

Whilst hoping for the best, and willing to be surprised, I'm afraid I agree with you, Pete...

Well it would be premature to predict the result obviously, but I don't see there has to be any tie-in between Sandy's style and Thea's. A songs a song. Like me I'm sure you have heard bad, good, and great Sandy covers and if its a whole albums worth, I'm sure the songs will fall into those 3 categories for a Sandy fan. I'm a huge Thea fan, loved her Loft Music album a couple of years ago-she had some good covers on there, though not necessarily obscure choices. For a big portion of Thea's fans I would think an album of Sandy songs would be new territory. All we can do is wait for the results in any case.

If they manage to pull in members from the 'WWDOOH' or 'L and L' lineups to back her, I might be tempted to give it a listen though!!!  

Sorry to double post, but I've just thought who for me would have been the perfect choice for this project.....Natalie Merchant.  That's it, I've had my say.   ;D

But she won't be covering any Sandy songs. ??? If you read the link, it clearly says that Thea has set some of Sandy's unpublished lyrics to music and recorded them. Sounds like a very interesting project to me.

Track listing:

1. Glistening Bay
2. Don’t Stop Me Singing
3. Frozen Time
4. Goodnight
5. London
6. Pain In My Heart
7. Sailor
8. Long Time Gone
9. Song No. 4
10. Georgia

Don't you just love the way people are negative about a project before they've even heard it?

Well, we all are entitled to an opinion on this site aren't we?  

Might we hear a new voice singing Sandy's part on Saturday this year ?

Don't you just love the way people are negative about an opinion they don't agree with?   ;) :)

I doubt it. This project looks to be Thea singing her own songs, but with lyrics from Sandy, if that makes sense. It's not a cover album.

My bad....couldn't open link on this computer, to be able to see that.

If i wanted to hear someone sing songs like Sandy i would listen to Sandy,
Much as i love Vikki Clayton  and even Chris While doing Sandy, they were very much in the style of Sandy.,phrasing even,tone etc.
It will be interesting to hear someone sing Sandy songs in an un Sandy way.
Adding my negativity i always wonder about previously unpublished stuff. If it was good it would have been performed.
Still it will be fun to find out.

I'm presuming it's lyrics that she was working on, at the time of her sad passing.

I beg to differ ;)

Well, I can state for the record that I've found some projects along the same line to be quite decent albums.  I like both
of the Billy Bragg/Wilco Mermaid Avenue takes on Woody Guthrie lyrics, as well as Jonatha Brooke's album from Woody Guthrie
lyrics.  Those both come from the very prolific Woody Guthrie, who had a much longer life, I do realize that Sandy's life
was far too short and she may have had some reason or other not to record the lyrics for these songs, it may also be that she
just didn't get around to it or never got the music done to go with the lyrics.  
At any rate, I trust Thea as a songwriter/performer to know if they were viable for her to feel
comfortable doing this, and don't see her as the type to do it if she didn't think an album's worth existed.
No reason to expect it to sound like Sandy, just reason to expect it to sound like Thea, but perhaps with some Sandy lyric
resonance for those of us who know and love Sandy's songs.  And it could well lead to others discovering Sandy doing
her own stuff, which is never a bad thing.
I'm sure there had to be some sort of permission from the Denny estate, so I'd say anyone uncomfortable with the concept
doesn't have to go anywhere near it, but they might miss out on something very unique/worthwhile.

But no one's even said why they are negative, Mr mjs....fair comment, I think.

Come on guys, just why do you think as you do?

I'll just quietly put my hand up and say that this sounds like an interesting experiment that I'd quite like to hear as soon as it's ready...

Not entirely sure it needs explaining, but because you asked so nicely...

Because it's a sign of an artist having run out of their own ideas, and because it (almost - I might go along with Mermaid Ave as an exception to the rule) never works.

Its a more a sign of someone/some company suggesting the idea to the artist.  I doubt Ms. Gilmore woke up one morning and decided that her next project should be to write and record music to previously unheard Sandy Denny lyrics.  I understand why there is an announcement of what the new recording involves, but had she simply recorded and released the album with no mention of Sandy, the material would succeed or fail entirely on its own merits.

Personally I'd prefer to have a new album of her own/co-written original material but I can see why a singer-songwriter might be tempted to boost their profile by recording works associated with a higher profile writer..

I'm not sure if I should be doing this, but here's what Thea has said in her Angels forum...

How cynical a view is that?!

I'm saddened by some of the views on this thread.
When it's released i'll listen to it. (like i would with any piece of music that catches my attention)
If I like it I like it, end of story. ( like i do with any piece of music that catches my attention)
Isn't that the way it works.? I certainly won't judge it til i've heard it.

You clearly know nothing about Thea.

Correct, other than her music which I have heard.  Jeez: I wish I hadn't bothered chipping in to this thread at all, as clearly the ill feeling it is generating outweighs the merits of the debate about the projected album.

It is surprising how certain artists generate such strong feeling, it is both a testament to their art and a hindrance at times, my guess is any artist would be flattered by an honest attempt at versions of their songs otherwise there would be very few cover versions in the world, if this is like the Mermaid Ave project someone will have requested the artist.

This seems very different a type of project and will once released I am sure generate much debate. Thea Gimore is taking on a daunting task, I am sure she will do this with integrity and the finished piece of work will be worth at least a respectful listen if people choose to. Until its released though who really knows what it will sound like.

Until then lets stay on topic and be nice to each other.

Neil

I am looking forward to it, whenever it gets released, and hope to like it. I like Thea's own stuff. I also like what she did with covers on Loft Music.

I'm not in the slightest bit precious about other people recording Sandy Denny's songs - some people's versions I like, some I don't.  What bothers me a bit is the "unpublished" thing.  Unlike say Mermaid Avenue, where there were an awful lot of Guthrie lyrics available, I'd have thought that with all the reissues, box sets and so on that what's left may be not up to much.  I'll just have to trust to Thea Gilmore's quality control radar, which judging by her own releases should be in fine working order, and await results.

I'd substitute "intrigues/interests" for the word bothers in the above sentence to describe how I feel about it.  I absolutely am curious how Thea came to the project, whether it was someone from the Denny estate who liked her work asking her if she could do something with the unfinished lyrics, or if she heard they existed and inquired as to whether they were something she could pursue.  From the earlier posting it sounds as though she isn't at liberty to discuss this project much at all at this point, which leads to speculation.  Funny that there is a ten track listing when it seems as though she is only partially through the process of it.  That makes one worry that someone is rushing her along.  Some artists work well to a deadline, some don't.  I just think the whole concept is a different sort of animal.  I don't really know if someone who discovered a drawer full of Klimt sketches should be given permission to turn them into finished paintings by the Klimt estate, but with the ability to scan the sketches and not change the actual sketches, what harm is there in seeing what could be done with them?
The lyrics exist, but will only be brought to any kind of life/awareness if someone sets them to music and sings them.  If I didn't like Thea's own writing/singing/playing, it wouldn't concern me because I could totally ignore the album.  As it is, I do like Thea and think that if she
feels it is worthy of doing, I will find it worth giving a listen, and have every hope that it will be a wonderful listening experience I wouldn't have had otherwise.

Unpublished, not necessarily unfinished.

I guess I would say my reading of this indicates that for it to be "collaboration" there is something incomplete about what Thea was given to work with, and that might mean Thea had access to some complete lyrics by Sandy that she needed/wanted to put to music, or it might mean she had fragmentary lyrics by Sandy that she wanted to flesh out and add to as well.  I tend to think that at this point if actual demos of Sandy doing these as songs existed, someone probably would have squeezed them out already.

There are (thin) parallels. Mike Scott puts Yeats to music,  Eddie Reader does the same to Robbie Burns etc

Why on this forum, if you disagree with the expected answer to a point of view, are you always told  'be nice to each other'?   It's a discussion we are enjoying, not an argument.  ???

Absolutely right. Now do it nicely.

Slightly veering off topic a little, but Thea Gilmore has just posted "Stirrings..."

I wish her luck and happiness with her imminent arrival!

Cheers

Nick

Is this the 5 minute discussion, or the full half hour?

Where? or am I missing a subtle joke ... ?

It was her last tweet.

I hope when Thea records this album, she chooses the only band that would be suitable to back her Ashley Hutchings / Blair Dunlops Albion Band, there could be no other choice in my opinion. ;D

When I first saw this thread I thought noooooo - Theas run out of ideas.

But now I've read what its about I'm looking forward to it - there are few artists I would trust to have the talent to carry this off but Thea would be one of them.

This is listed on amazon as "The Technicolour Dream" with a track listing, as listed on this thread, with a cover and such, it has Sandy Denny and Thea Gilmore listed at the same level on the cover.

Thea is heavily pregnant. There was some concern that she might have given birth onstage at Latitude festival last weekend. Baby may well have arrived as I write this.

Cheers

Nick

If you look closely it says "words" & "music" above the names.

Actually, regardless of whether or not you look closely, it does indeed say "words" above Sandy's name and "music" above Thea's name,
although the type-face and contrast at the size I can see it on my computer don't make either word easy to read.  I imagine that might sort
out that these are indeed complete enough lyrics by Sandy that Thea felt able to set them to music without adding/altering the words
and having successful songs as a result.  Keeps looking interesting to me.

Got it. Thanks

Sounds like a good combination to me.

If I had to choose the best British female singer-songwriter of 2011, it would be Thea Gilmore.  Sandy was undoubtedly the best of her time, and probably the best of these past thirty years.  This should be interesting.  Sandy was not always appreciated and Thea hasn't received the recognition which she deserves.

I'd like to have a listen to this.

That reminds me. A follow up from



It has been announced :



So, good for her and Nigel!  :)

Ouch! he's (well, difficult to tell from those names, guessing!) a large lad...

Are the parents Steinbeck fans then? Or is the name from something else?
Congrats anyhoo.  :)

Well, Thea is certainly a Springsteen fan and he is in turn a Steinbeck fan having named one of his albums after Tom Joad.

Oh yes, of course. I had forgotten that album, maybe the name did come via that route.

Congratulations to Thea & Nigel - I wonder which of them is a Peter & Gordon fan, or a rap fan, or perhaps they both like posh cakes.  ;)

There is also the British Philosopher and intellectual C. E. M. Joad

Joad's work was famously derivative of Bertrand Russell's. True story: Russell was once asked to right a Foreword for a book by Joad, and declined with the words "Modesty forbids".

He is one very interesting chap that Joad. I like this quote from him
"Men are like wine. Some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age."

sorry off topic!

From a recent email...:

---

Island Records are excited to announce that October 24th heralds the release of an important new album.

THEA GILMORE & SANDY DENNY release "Don't Stop Singing", a collaboration across the generations between Thea and Sandy.

Thea Gilmore the Oxfordshire born singer/songwriter, has blazed a fiercely independent trail through her music and her spirit for over a decade. Known for her crystalline English voice and her brilliant lyrics, she has charted four albums and toured extensively throughout the UK, US and Canada. Her higher profile fans include Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez and she has collaborated on record and onstage with a vast array of artistes including Mike Scott, Martha Wainwright, Sting, The Zutons, The Cowboy Junkies and Peggy Seeger.

Sandy Denny enjoyed worldwide acclaim through the late 60s and 70s, as a member of Fairport Convention and as a solo artiste. She also guested on Led Zeppelin's "Battle Of Evermore" and influenced artistes from Kate Bush to Paul Weller. Sandy died tragically young in 1978 after a fall. She left behind a unique musical legacy, ranging from her early folk rock stylings, to interpretations of both English traditional music and US rock'n'roll, through to her later albums dominated by her own piano based atmospheric ballads.

In late 2010 Thea Gilmore was commissioned by Sandy's estate, in conjunction with Island Records, to write melodies for unfinished manuscripts, lyrics without music, and works in progress and so to finally bring some of Sandy's last works to the world.

"Don't Stop Singing" is the result. An album of 10 beautiful songs, Thea's peerless voice and melodic gifts bring the Denny spirit and vision into the 21st century.

The album ranges from the uplifting "Glistening Bay", an epihany rooted in stirring natural imagery borne along by piano and sweeping strings, to the dark personal imagery of "Pain In My Heart" and "Long Time Gone" to the exquisitely fragile lullaby "Georgia"... all tied together by the title track, a pithy and infectiously catchy nod to the enduring power of music.

The strings on "Don't Stop Singing" were arranged and led by gifted young Scottish musician Donald Grant, who featured to great acclaim last year on Kate Rusby's "Make The Light" album.

Other guests on a truly generation-transcending album include Benji Kirkpatrick from Bellowhead and his legendary acordion playing father John Kirkpatrick, who himself featured on "The North Star Grassman And The Ravens".

It's been an affecting journey for Thea, who grew up both geographically and spiritually close to Sandy and the Fairport’s world. It's also a piece of work she feels deeply proud of.

"Don't Stop Singing" is an unprecedented meeting of musical minds. And also a work of spine-tingling beauty.

Listen to the opening song from the album
'Glistening Bay' on SoundCloud
http://soundcloud.com/dont-stop-singing

Pre order 'Don't Stop Singing' on Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0057MFA60

---

Cheers

Nick

Well the one track released sounds very good. Looking forward to the whole album.

Indeed - from one listen of "Glistening Bay" it seems Thea's voice & tune will do justice to Sandy's words...

i can only agree with Andy and Pauls sentiments

Very tasty track. If the rest of the CD is as good it'll live up to the hype. An obvious choice for Cropredy next year.

That track sounds excellent, and has quietened a lot of my fears about the project.  I'll look forward to hearing more.

Thea's a woman of integrity, who wouldn't have done this if she didn't think she could do it well.  This will be a must-have.  She also did the complete 'John Wesley Harding', which was sung live at the Union Chapel - unfortunately I missed it.  Would like to see this live.

The track sounds fab to me.  Damn...more eating of hats...

Wow, that does sound great. Will definitely be adding to the collection!

Sounds fantastic.

Is it me, or have they change the name of the album from 'The Technicolour Dream' ?

'Don't Srop Singing' sounds a bit naff to say the least.

I wasn't going to mention it, but, yes...you're not wrong. It's one of those bizzare things where you wonder why whoever suggested it wasn't just looked at, everyone shaking their heads going, 'er, Noooo...I don't think so'.  Still, I'm sure we'll get over it...  :)

Spine tingling.

Could be a line in one of the songs.

I thought at one point I saw a track list that included a song that was titled "Don't Stop Me Singing"...even that one extra word helps
a little bit, but "Don't Stop Singing" is definitely a groaner.

This is the track list.

1. Glistening Bay  
2. Don't Stop Me Singing  
3. Frozen Time  
4. Goodnight  
5. London  
6. Pain In My Heart  
7. Sailor  
8. Long Time Gone  
9. Song No. 4  
10. Georgia  

Thea's voice is a treasure, it's got better and better over the years and I rate her as one of the most interesting singers/songwriters around at the moment. This looks like a really exciting and important release. I'm glad they've given the job to Thea and I'm booking tickets to Cropredy on day one if she's there!

Half Moon in Putney in December.

She's doing a small tour aroind then, not just Putney. But i'mnot sure its around this album, more an Xmas show/songs

There is a short interview in the new The Word magazine (the one with Noel Gallagher on the cover) wherein Thea Gilmore explains the process behind writing these songs and how she came to be doing it. Included is the interesting snippet that she is not taking any money for having done so.

R4's Today programme just had a feature on this at about 8.30-8.45. Thea and Bob Harris (who flatshared with Sandy in the 60s apparently) were both interviewed. I expect it will be on Listen Again.

For now at least, you can find that interview here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9612000/9612498.stm

Cheers

Nick

Very moving.  I love Thea's approach to this and look forward to hearing more.

Despite thinking I wouldn't at all...I'm really looking forward to the project.

Oh, I really hate the term 'passed away'.  When did 'died' become unsayable?

Quite agree, David!

Slightly off topic but did you see Stephen Fry's Planet Word on Sunday night? It was in part about precisely that point.

Indeed I did, and fascinating it was...but I thought they completely bottled it, and lost all credibility for their arguments by talking about the 'n-word'.  Made themselves look ridiculous.  Never be afraid of words.

Right, how can I get this back on topic?  Oh yes, by saying I'm hoping to see her in Chester on the 20th Dec...  ;)

Thea and band played a few songs from the Sandy album on Saturday night at her Nantwich Words and Music Festival gig. I liked them and look forward to the CD.

There is a positive and interesting article and interview of Thea by Andy Gill in today's Independent.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/thea-gilmore-breathes-new-life-into-the-words-of-a-tragic-lost-star-2370108.html

I still wish they'd stop harping on about the 'tortured tragic artist' line and just remember her for the astounding talent she was....

And, not for the first time, The Independent have used an archive picture purportedly of Fairport, but actually Sandy, RT and the Dransfields!

Good review. I'm certainly going to buy this CD. I've not been persuaded to buy the Rupert Street CD but this sounds much more worthwhile.

Looking forward to seeing Thea at the Half Moon in December.

Thanks, Nick. By the fragments of the songs mixed into the interview I got a better idea of the CD than by the track that was posted here earlier. While that had a melody that was intriguing and Thea's singing was very good, I could not help thinking that it sounded to 'poppy' and a little heavily produced. Indeed just what Sandy sometimes did on her last solo-albums. The interview shows that there are also some songs with a 'smaller' sound, which sound better to my ears.

--
Hans Valk

There's an extremely scathing review of the album in this month's Mojo.
Sample quote.


"Her (Sandy's) estate eventually scouted around for a suitable artist to bring them (Sandy's lyrics) into the public light.Instead they found Thea Gilmore"
Ouch!!

A much more positive review in yesterday's Guardian (4/5 stars) by Caroline Sullivan.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/20/thea-gilmore-dont-stop-singing-review

DC

Is that the December issue, Bill? Who wrote it? So far the reviews have been positive, but there is undoubtedly a negative review to be written. I'm down to review this album for R2 but I haven't made up my mind yet what line to take. Although it's very easy on the ear, I have a heap of reservations about the whole project.

Yes, the December issue. The reviewer is Andy Fyfe.

I think they're Pat Donaldson, Sandy, Timi Donald and RT, maybe singing The Rigs of the Times

Interview in today's Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/worldfolkandjazz/8851359/Thea-Gilmore-Bringing-Sandy-Denny-back-to-life.html

I thought I'd refrain from posting on this thread until I've heard the album.  In my humble opinion it is excellent and Thea's music suits the lyrics very well.  Just thought I'd let you know....

Have just given this a listen and it is really rather good, a lot better than I feared it might be. It is definitely Thea Gilmore singing the words of Sandy Denny and not trying to be Sandy Denny. I would like to hear Fairport doing London, and the last song, Georgia, is quite moving. One of those," I don't think I want to put anything else on for a while" songs.

Should be delivered tomorrow, really looking forward to listening to this now.

My copy arrived at work on Monday. I have listened to it once. It is lovely. Favourite track so far is Frozen Time.

Gracenote gives the artist as Sandy Denny & Thea Gilmore, which is nice.

Sleeve credits include:
Words by Sandy Denny
Music by Thea Gilmore
Additional music by Nigel Stonier
Produced by Nigel Stonier
Musicians: Thea Gilmore, Nigel Stonier, Paul Beavis, Benji Kirkpatrick, John Kirkpatrick, Liz Hanks, Maclaine Couston, Fluff, Donald Grant, Magnus Johnson, Rachel Jones, Tracey Browne, Steve Butler. Kellie While, Ewan Davies, Dan Logan.
 

I bought a copy last night - like Adrian, I think it's lovely.  Hats off to all involved!  I'd like to think Sandy would have approved, but as Thea says in her notes "we will never know"...

I've just read that Mojo review, I've never read such tosh in all my life.  The reviewer says that Thea Gilmore always 'divides opinion'.  Roughly translated this means 'I don't like Thea Gilmore so I now feel justified in slagging her off!'

As I said previously, I think it's an excellent album, but that of course, is an opinion.......

mine hasnt arrived yet :'(

Just finished listening, superb!

Arrived yesterday, but have not had an opportunity to listen properly yet.

I quite like it, but don't imagine that I'll be playing it very often. Parts of it are very good to my ears (with the Kate Bush-ish Frozen Time a real stand-out song), but others seem to me to lean a little towards the schmaltzy. What does really rather put me off is the ubiquity of that very contemporary "yodelling" style of singing--it really grates on me after a while. But that's just a matter of taste, innit? De gustibus nil disputandum (trans: Don't have an argument on an open-topped bus).

mine turned up this morning bu i was on my way to see my auntie who's in a nursing home near Tadcaster
i'' ll listen to it l8er and give you the definitive schizzle ::)

Can you explain that further please, I don't know what you mean.

I'm only halfway through the first listen but I have already thought this would have been brilliant if Kate Bush and Dave Swarbrick had made this record!

Which bit? Yodelling? What I mean by that (and I probably lack the musical vocabulary to express it adequately), is the frequent moving, often mid-phrase, from a low to a high register. It seems to be the thing to do at the moment, and it's quite a neat trick, but one which for me gets old quite quickly.

Joni used to do that back in the 60s/70s...

     I find my favourite Kate Bush records are the ones where she doesnt do anything like sing or play anything on them so i was quite relieved that she had been barred access to the sessions for this record.
     Thea and Nigel Stonier have done a right good job here, this is no quick cash in job.
     The first track being the one which i would imagine sounds like it would had Sandy done the music as well, the piano playing has huge echoes of Sandy's style, and John Kirkpatrick's box playing is very familiar in a good way, the playing is top notch throughout and the tunes really sympathetic to the words.
 worth 9 of your english pounds any day
   and yes, the presence of Swarb would have been the icing on this particular cake
    

The JK sound makes me think of a Richard & Linda "feel"... yep, I think Thea & co have done a good job here.

Straying off topic a little...

Thea's music also features on BBC Radio2 this weekend... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0171p6v

For what it's worth, I think it's a very fine album. Some very moving stuff on it.

You can listen to some of the music from the Victor Gregg programme at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0171p6v

One of the best albums I have heard for years, I never realised what a good voice Thea's is. Her "yodelling" bits remind me of Sara McLachlan.

To my ears a couple of tracks sound like "an Albion Band"  ;D

There's a 4 star review in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/2e08bec4-08f1-11e1-9fe8-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1dW0E32RN

"Gilmore... makes no attempt to mimic Denny’s dreamy drift or her heavy vibrato" (FT reviewer)

cf.

"(Denny) was a perfect British folk voice. Not a trace of vibrato. Pure and easy" (Pete Townshend).

They can't both be right, can they?
 ???

I remember that quote from Townshend and thought at the time that he must have been listening to someone else.

Just to add, I bought the album yesterday and after a couple of plays I'm very impressed and certainly don't agree with the Mojo review.

Pete Townshend is an absolute hero of mine: one of the finest, most perceptive songwriters in the history of popular music, and an incredible showman. But he doesn't half talk some rubbish.

Bless him!!

Like rather than love it I think.

You can tell they are Sandy's songs though, they have a definate air of Sandydennyishness that you cant miss.

Glistening Bay is fantastic, although kicking off an album with the best track is an interesting strategy. I'm glad I'm not the only person to think that Kate Bush would have been fantastic on Frozen Time.

My main reservation is that (like some of Sandys later stuff) the arangements are over-done. SOme of these songs would be much better with just a voice and a piano.

Thea was on the Andrew Marr programme on BBC1 this morning.  She sang 'Don't Stop Singing'.  Not my favourite from the CD.

nor mine.
 still, it was a nice surprise seeing her doing it when i walked into the paper shop this morning

Don't worry. You will be able to buy the piano and vocal demo versions in a 19 CD "Thea Gilmore does Sandy Denny" boxed set in a few years time.

I won't worry.  Thea will put out more of her great self-penned (music and lyrics) CDs before that...

Such cynicism!  ;D

I just finished my first listen through this album, and I can definitely say I'm glad to have it.  It works well as an album,
and I think I'd feel that way even if I wasn't already a big fan of both Sandy's work and Thea's work.  For me, both
the lyrics and the music have enough of the "feel" of sufficiently Sandy qualities to make it feel like a labor of love
and tribute.  It truly is an entity unto itself.  I think Thea did a wonderful job of getting a mood from the written
words and transforming into fully realized songs.  Nothing seems slavishly done to any preconceived notion, but yet
there is a spirit to it that feels collaborative in a fully realized manner years after the fact.  Don't know how many people
could've pulled that off, but as I listen again while typing this, I'm glad Thea had the opportunity to try and rose to the occasion.

That's so well written and about sums up my feeling about the album. I think it's been beautifuly done and happy to have it amongst my Sandy collection  :)

C x

Finally got my hands on this - it's really good - I'll summarise it as not quite a Sandy Denny album, not quite a Thea Gilmore album either but none the worse for it !

I see that Thea is singing the entire album at Cecil Sharp House on 4 February.

We are going to Cecil Sharp House tonight to see/hear the above.  Hope it doesn't snow later!!

I'm in to take photos so long as the snow forecast holds off

How was the concert? We were in Malaga for the weekend (also very cold!) so couldn't go. Did the BBC record it?

Nothing recorded - gig was superb. Even Thea's young kid played the fiddle - he must only be 3ish....

How did your photos turn out?

He has being doing that for some time. First in the audience. Then on stage. I wonder when they will plug him in?

It was a wonderful evening.  Thea was on top form and the band was great.  Husband Nigel kept it all together - and 5 year old son Egan counted everyone in on one song as well as playing a tiny violin.  The string quartet was superb, especially since they only rehearsed from 3pm that day.

It had been snowing all evening and it took me 4.5 hours to get home to Ealing - but I'm very glad I went.

When, oh when, will the world wake up to Thea?????